A valid Whitman ID that is linked to the library database is required to borrow material from Penrose Library. ID cards are not transferable and may not be used by anyone other than the person to whom they were issued. A valid Whitman ID card must be presented every time materials are borrowed.
New Whitman faculty ID cards are issued through the Human Resources Office and Campus Security. Cards may be validated for library use at the Penrose Library Circulation Desk. Any questions or concerns about Library ID cards or general circulation issues should be directed to circ@whitman.edu or 509-527-5192. Library users assume responsibility for notifying the Library of change of address, loss or theft of Library ID card, and loss or theft of library materials they have borrowed. Library users also accept responsibility for materials borrowed on their ID card and for returning materials to the Library by the due date.
Faculty at Whitman may request that their research assistant or work-study student borrow materials on their behalf. A Library Proxy Application is available at the Penrose Library Circulation Desk. Faculty users are responsible for materials borrowed on their library cards and for returning these materials to the Library by the due date. Students borrowing material for faculty must present a valid Whitman ID in order to use the proxy privilege.
There is no limit to the number of items a faculty member may borrow at any one time. To view a full list of library materials checked out to you, select Renew My Books under "My Account" from the Library Homepage and log-in with your name and bar code number, located on the back of your Whitman ID card.
Loan periods differ according to the type of material being borrowed:
| Books | DVDs & Videos | Periodicals, Microforms & Reference Materials | Reserve Materials | Interlibrary Loan Materials | Summit Books | Summit DVDs & Videos | |
| Faculty | 1 year; materials due June 1st | 7 days | Library use only | Limited circulation | Due date set by lending library | 3 weeks | 3 days |
| Visiting & Adjunct Faculty | Due at conclusion of contract period | 7 days | Library use only | Limited circulation | Due date set by lending library | 3 weeks | 3 days |
The Library balances the need for researchers' long-term use of library materials against our need to review periodically the condition of materials and encourages their return for use by others.
Certain items may be renewed, provided they are not needed by another library user. Items may be renewed by selecting Renew My Books under "My Account" from the Library Homepage and logging-in with your name and bar code number, located on the back of your Whitman ID card. Renewals are also accepted via telephone 509-527-5192 or at the Penrose Library Circulation Desk.
All items must be renewed on or before the date they are due.
Number of times items may be renewed:
| Books | DVDs & Videos | Periodicals, Microforms & Reference Materials | Reserve Materials | Interlibrary Loan Materials | Summit Books | Summit DVDs & Videos | |
| Faculty | 2 - books must be returned at the end of the spring semester after the third year from original checkout | 24 Hours | Library use only | Limited circulation | Determined by lending library | 1 | 1 |
| Visiting & Adjunct Faculty | Due at conclusion of contract period | 24 hours | Library use only | Limited circulation | Determined by lending library | 1 | 1 |
Faculty who need a large number of materials for an extended period of time
may request an in-office visit from a Library staff member to check-out and in
materials or to return the books the faculty member no longer needs. To request
this service faculty members are asked to submit a
Request to the Faculty Library Advisory Committee.
Recalls
The Whitman College Library lending periods are intended to allow scholars convenient long-term use of library materials. In order to assure reasonable access to the library’s collections for all users, the Library offers several responses to the competition for materials:
Items known to be in heavy demand, especially for course assignments, should be placed on Reserve, which have shorter loan periods allowing wider access to materials.
Patrons needing items that are checked out may search the Summit Catalog and request a copy from another institution (see more on Summit borrowing).
If there is heavy demand for a title please feel free to suggest that the Library acquire additional copies.
Patrons needing items that are checked out may Recall them using the PLACE HOLD button in the Library catalog. The current borrower is required to return the item withing a short period of time or face high fines and additional sanctions.
Notification of Recall
Borrowers will be notified immediately that the item they have checked out has been recalled. Notification will be sent by email notice.
Minimum Use
Borrowers may expect to have exclusive use of library materials for one week from the time of check-out. Borrowers must return recalled materials by the due date specified on the recall notification, usually within 5 days of the recall request. Items needed for Reserve will be recalled immediately.
Fines
Failure to return a recalled item by the specified due date will result in a $5.00 per day fine. Fines will accumulate until the replacement cost of the item has been reached.
Faculty are not charged general overdue fines for materials held by Penrose Library. However, all faculty are subject to recall overdue fines as well as overdue fines for Summit & Interlibrary loan materials.
| Books | DVDs & Videos | Periodicals, Microforms & Reference Materials | Reserve Materials | Recalled Items | Summit & Interlibrary Loan Materials | |
| Per Item/ Per Day | N/A | N/A | Library use only | N/A | $5.00 | $0.50 for the first 10 days; $1.00 per day for the next 15 days; $30 max. fine |
If a Penrose item is lost or stolen, the minimum Item Replacement Fee is $35.00 or the actual price of the item (if greater). An additional, non-refundable $6.00 processing fee per item is charged. By permission, an exact duplicate of the lost item may be accepted as a replacement. Please speak with the Access Services Manager for details.
Summit and Interlibrary Loan materials which are lost or stolen incur a minimum $110 per item replacement fee, or the actual price of the item (if greater).
Replacement items that are charged to your library record will also block your ability to borrow Summit and Interlibrary loan materials. The immediate return of billed items will clear the replacement charge. When returning a billed item, please speak with the Circulation Supervisor to make certain that the charge have been cleared from your Library account. Refunds will not be issued if the book has been lost for more than one year.
Please direct questions about replacement costs and billing to the Access Services Manager.
Notifications of recalls, fines and bills will be by e-mail whenever an e-mail address is available; otherwise United States Postal Service will be used. It is the responsibility of the borrower to ensure the library information on file concerning addresses and phone numbers is current and accurate.